ED Arrests Former Bengal Minister Sujit Bose in South Dum Dum Municipality Recruitment Scam

May 12, 2026 : The Enforcement Directorate has arrested former West Bengal Fire and Emergency Services Minister Sujit Bose in connection with the alleged South Dum Dum Municipality recruitment scam. Bose was taken into custody in Kolkata after more than 10 hours of interrogation on Monday night.

According to ED officials, Bose allegedly recommended nearly 150 candidates for various municipal posts in exchange for financial benefits during the previous Trinamool Congress regime. Investigators claim the irregular appointments were made between 2014 and 2016, when Bose served as vice-chairman of the South Dum Dum Municipality from 2010 to 2021.

The central agency said it has traced alleged proceeds of crime linked to the case, including flats purportedly acquired in return for facilitating jobs in the municipality. Officials also claimed to have identified substantial cash deposits in bank accounts allegedly controlled by Bose.

The ED has alleged that unlawful recruitments were carried out across 17 municipalities, involving nearly 1,000 employees. Bose is reportedly the first former minister to be arrested after the BJP came to power in West Bengal.

The arrest was made under provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). Bose is expected to be produced before a Special Court today.

In the recent West Bengal Assembly elections, Bose lost his seat to the BJP candidate by a margin of more than 37,000 votes.